Trump in Davos: Europe is not heading in the right direction

US President Donald Trump, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, said that Europe is "not heading in the right direction".

Summing up the achievements of the US economy over the past year, Trump addressed Europeans, saying they could follow the example of the United States, but added that, in his words, "certain places in Europe are not even recognisable".

He repeated that he does not recognise Europe "in a negative way".

"That's in a very negative way. And I love Europe, and I want to see Europe go good, but it's not heading in the right direction," Trump said.

He criticised the development of the modern Western economy, which he said is focused on government spending, mass migration and the green transition.

"In recent decades, it became conventional wisdom in Washington and European capitals that the only way to grow a modern Western economy was through ever-increasing government spending, unchecked mass migration and endless foreign imports. The consensus was that so-called 'dirty jobs' and heavy industries should be sent elsewhere, that affordable energy should be replaced by the Green New Scam," he added.

Trump arrived at the Davos forum with a delay after his aircraft was forced to return to Andrews Air Force Base due to electrical problems shortly after take-off.

As a result, among other things, his meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was cancelled.

Merz had hoped to meet Trump in Davos in an attempt to ease tensions arising from US claims over Greenland.